Police seize 23 in drug raids Sweeps on east side, west side collar 14-year-old boy.

June 20, 1991|By Richard Irwin | Richard Irwin,Evening Sun Staff

Uniformed and plainclothes police officers on opposite sides of Baltimore last night swooped down on various locations and arrested 23 people on drug charges, including a 14-year-old who told police he took a cab across town to deal drugs.

Besides the 14-year-old from East Baltimore, police arrested a second juvenile on drug charges.

In the Western District, members of "Operation Zebra," under the direction of Lt. James Maddigan, hit a wide area around Monroe and Fayette streets between 4 p.m. and midnight and arrested 22 people suspected of selling or possessing drugs.

The arrests of the alleged drug dealers and runners followed complaints from citizens and resulted in the seizure of nearly 50 $25 bags of heroin, 70 $10 bags of cocaine, about $1,800 in cash and a handgun.

The two juveniles were among the 22 arrested. They were released to their parents pending action by juvenile authorities.

The remaining 19 suspects, all adult males, were held overnight at the station's lockup pending bail hearings today before a District Court commissioner.

Charges ranged from simple possession of heroin and cocaine to possession in quantity with intent to distribute.

On the other side of the city, Eastern District police raided a house in the 400 block of Worsley St. at 9:30 last night and arrested Daryl Lewis, 23, of the 1800 block of Guilford Ave. They charged him with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. In the house, police found more than $100 in cash and 24 $10 vials of cocaine.

Lewis was held overnight at the station pending a bail hearing, police said.